Combination door insert kit



April 1968 R. F. DONKIN 3,377,747

COMBINATION DOOR INSERT KIT Filed Jan. 11, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOF? RALPH F. DONKIN April 6, 1968 I R. F. DONKIN 337 747 COMBINATION DOOR INSERT KIT Filed Jan. 11, 1965 I5 Sheets-Sheet I5 I 0 500a Z05 5 KA PH F. 170mm NVENTOR JATTYIS United States Patent Oflice 3,377,747 Patented Apr. 16, 1968 3,377,747 CGMBlNATION DGOR INSERT KIT Ralph Flanders Donkin, Port Credit, Ontario, Canada,

assignor to American Screen Products Company, Chatsworth, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 424,522 2 Claims. (Cl. 49-414) The present invention relates to combination door and window assemblies or kits, and more particularly to such assemblies including a frame and complementary window and screen panel parts, which frame, window and screen par-ts, when assembled, are adapted for mounting in a rectangular door opening either at the manufacturer level or at the site of existing installations in buildings, which may be equipped with such window and screen panel assemblies by simple modification to a minimum number of parts of the combination assembly kits.

Prior known assemblies for windows and screens installed in door openings, and the like, have required relatively careful tolerances in the shaping of the door opening to receive the assembled window and screen parts. While such installations can be accurately and conveniently made where factory installation facilities are available, such installations cannot be made so accurately or conveniently using the same type parts when the installation is to be made by a carpenter or a building owner in an existing door opening, or the like. Thus installations made in existing sites have not at all times been satisfactory from the standpoint of suitable weatherproof tightness of the window or screen frame within the opening, and the appearance of such installation is not attractive because of not being regularly aligned withother door parts.

This invention, to be described in detail below, comprises a frame assembly for factory installation, which is easily modified for field installation in doors and the like, and which permits portions of the same extrusion dies, therefore, to be economically used in large measure for manufacture of parts serving an identical function in both factory and custom installation.

Accordingly, a major feature of the present invention resides in overcoming certain prior .art disadvantages, particularly of in situ installation, which are corrected with employment of the present invention by providing sufficient tolerances of parts for installation in door and window openings remote from a factory, while further providing for ready fabrication of parts for factory installation using a large portion of the same equipment for forming frame parts.

A structural feature of the present invention resides in a frame assembly constructed of extruded metal and/or plastic parts arranged to be assembled in a shape defining a rectangular opening and including an annular groove or track of predetermined depth facing said opening, at least one portion of the groove being equipped for receiving resilient retaining means to permit facile and quick installation and removal of prefabricated window and screen units.

Other material and functional features and advantages of the invention are as follows:

(1) The screen and glass panel frames preferably are made of roll-formed aluminum, which is readily treated by chemical conversion coating processes and can be painted by specially selected paint in several colors to attain eye appeal as well as corrosion resistance.

(2) The main frame assembly of the invention incorporates relatively rigid vinyl tracks and other specially selected materials to cope with changes of temperature as well as corrosion due to chemicals and smoke of industrial communities, as well as corrosion caused by the elements.

(3) Metallic portions of the invention which are exposed to weather to some extent are fabricated from corrosion resistant metals, such as stainless steel or the like.

(4) Certain of the parts are fabricated from natural virgin nylon for both eye appeal and blending with the coloration of other parts, as well as for strength inherent in such nylon.

(5) In both the factory fabricated and custom installations, the product is interchangeable and a durable and readily used and trouble-free product results therefor, and this feature is attained in large part by the functional feature that no metal-to-metal contact contributes to corrosion, that may be of galvanic nature in different atmospheres, and accordingly structural parts, such as lower door parts, are not stained by the effluent from such type corrosion.

(6) Grooves at the sides of the frame comprise long track legs for guiding the panels of an installation in use, and are interference fit for pressure sealing panels while permitting smooth controlled movement of the ventilating panel in the side tracks without a shearing action at the edges, and the interference fit also prevents rattling of the panels under windy conditions.

(7) In an alternate modification of the structure of the invention, for installation in situ, there is an in-built tolerance as well as provision for adapting the frame to different thicknesses of lumber, and the cut-out opening size may vary by approximately /2" either out of squareness or from minimum to maximum size of opening.

(8) The main frame assembly comprises extruded parts out off in a manner to match at the corners and the corners can include welded mitre joints to reduce the possibility of leakage through the frame.

(9) The panels are readily placed in the frames and the frames may be either single or double-glazed, and are resiliently snapped into place semi-automatically by a spring biased track in one of the side rails or tracks.

(10) Glass panels can be reglazed in the panel frames by a new mitre joint connection which includes a staking tab that is resilent, which may be freed by insertion of a thin blade, such as a spatula, into the mitre joint and releasing the staking tab and removing the frame, and broken glass, for reassembly around a new plate of glass.

(11) By providing nylon lift handles for the ventilating panel of the combination kit, primary manufacturers of window parts may have their individual logogram cast in the handle on the top surface by inexpensive mold inserts for dies.

(12) The interlocking meeting rail may be conveniently acoustically welded in factory processing where acoustic projection welding equipment is available, and this further adds strength and weather tightness, and contributes to attractive appearance; and in addition the finished assembly in the field installations is arranged to present a smooth finish appearance by use of cover strips snapped over the installation screws used for making the installation.

Accordingly, it is a broad object of the invention to provide improved parts for assemblies of windows, screens, and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved frame for releasably retaining prefabricated screen and window panels.

A further object in keeping with the above objects is to provide frame part kits for combination doors, and

' the like.

-A further object in keeping with each of the preceding objects is to provide an improved perimetrical frame for windows, screens, and the like, which incorporates yieldab'le portions providing securement for screen and/or window panels or assemblies therein.

An object in keeping with the next preceding object is 3 to provide spring retaining means for prefabricated window and/ or screen articles of manufacture.

A further object in keeping with each of the preceding objects is to provide improvements in perimetrical window and/ or screen frame for insertion into a frame in a rectangular opening.

A further object, in keeping with the preceding objects, is to provide frame parts for windows, screens, and the like, which are fabricated from extrusions which may be made from substantially identical extrusion die parts for adaptation of the frame to different end uses therefor.

A still further object is to provide a new combination corner bracket-latch for use with panels and the like.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be either pointed out or obvious in the following specification and claims as read in view of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an inside elevational View of a door having a combination window and screen assembly inserted therein in keeping with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing double glazing in the door.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a corner detail of a lower right-hand corner of an assembly, with parts broken away for clarity.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of a modification of the invention adapted for field installation.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing some identical parts but having a wider spacer than that shown in FIG. 6 for accommodating door openings of thicker material.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a corner angle bracket for securing frame parts together.

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view showing interior structure of both frame and panel parts.

FIG. 10 is a detail view of a knob for actuating a latch or detent for a window panel.

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of a corner angle bracket for a screen or window panel.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view looking upwardly at FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view of a frame with a window panel therein in position for removal from the frame; and

'FIG. 14 is a view looking downwardly at FIG. 13.

Some of the principal attributes of this invention reside in facile installation and removal of window and screen panels, and the wea'thertight, rattle-free character of assembly. The plastic frame and parts attenuate sounds even under strong, gusty wind conditions. A spring biased bolster in a side rail secures each window or screen panel in position, and serves to restrain movement of same in several senses of movement. The spring is readily depressed by hand pressure upon a panel engaging the bolster, thus facilitating insertion and removal of panels.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a door of this invention is preferably a factory-fabricated door and has an opening therein, upper and lower edges 22 and 24 of which are shown in FIG. 2. Such factory-assembled doors 20 are assembled in jigs to careful tolerances and, accordingly, the surfaces 22 and 24 snugly engage an upper frame part 26 and a lower frame part 28. Side rails 30 and 32 fit in like snug manner on surfaces 31 and 33, FIG. 4, and the parts 26, 28, 30 and 32 can be preassembled with relationship with each other, and door parts can be placed therearound and positioned by a suitable jig, not shown. Nails 3d, at suitably spaced positions for proper rigidity of structure, can be placed around the frame parts 26, 28, 30 and 32 to secure same to the wooden parts of door 20. Of course, if the door parts are metal, sheet metal screws of known kind can be used.

The frame parts 26, 28, 30 and 32 are all made preferably but not so limited, of relatively rigid vinyl extrusions to form stock in the shapes of the sections 26 and 28, shown, and it is to be noted that these are identical, but inverted relatively. Side frame parts are made from identical stock. The stock has one or more grooves 35 which are inwardly flanged as by external flanges 36 and a septum flange 38 between flanges 36. The innermost edges of the flanges 36 and 38 contain opposite facing ribs 40, 42, 44 and 46 which engage panel framing sides 50 of glass panels generally indicated at 52, which panels 50 can be, and preferably are, identical to each other in major part. The invention also includes identically externally dimensioned framing sides 50 for screen panels 54, which are interchangeably fitted into doors or windows as desired.

The extruded stock also includes an exterior perimetrical flange including a flat base 60, also common to the inwardly facing grooves 35, and outwardly and inwardly extending edge flanges 62. The edge flanges 62 are identical and adapted to frictionally fit sides 64 and 66 of the door 20, which sides are inner and outer sides of a door in this example. The friction fit thus obtained is weather tight all around the parts 26, 28, 30 and 32 because of the rigidity of the vinyl material. Of course, for severe weather conditions, caulking can be applied at points 68 at tops and sides and bottoms; however, paint is usually sufiicient to form an effective weather tight seal.

The vinyl material for the extrusion for forming the parts 26, 28, 30 and 32 preferably has a coefficient of expansion comparable for use with the wood to which it is applied in these prefabricated door units about the same as the coefiicient of expansion of the wood. The woods which are normally used are pine or redwood or the like, although different factories use different techniques and different woods, and many doors are presently covered with vinyl or plywood on the exteriors only. It is within the scope of this invention to embrace such construction and adapt diiferent vinyls with different coefiicients of expansion to obtain a weather tight door under different ambient conditions.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, a single extrusion for all of the sides 26, 28, 30 and 32 is best adapted for 45 degree mitre corners 70 at each corner of the frame structure. At these joints 70, in factory installations, the vinyl is adaptable to welding by either heat or magnetic acoustical welding operations and, accordingly, the factory door assembly is weather-tight at each mitre corner 70.

With reference again to FIG. 2, the side framing members 50 and 50' for framing glass or screen panels are made of rolled aluminum stock. The members 50 comprise an upper wall 72 (with reference to the upper side 50), a downwardly extending wall 74 which is inwardly return bent at 76 to form an inverted channel having a leg 76. The channel 76 at its leg opposite the wall 74 terminates in an upwardly bent leg 78 secured, as by welding, to a second leg 80 downwardly extending from the upper side 72. Window glass 82 is adapted to be secured in plastic U-cross-sectioned resilient stripping 84 which is inserted all around within the U-shaped inner channel 75. The window glass 82 is frictionally retained therein and is sealed against the elements by the stripping 84. The parts 50 forming top, bottom and side frame parts for a window frame are all identical and are mitre-joined at 45 degrees as indicated at mitre line 85, FIGS. 5 and 9.

The screen panels 54 are framed in roll formed sides 50', also fabricated of rolled aluminum sheet or strip metal. With reference to FIG. 4, each frame side 50' has an outer wall 90. The wall connects with a wall 92 in turn connected with a leg 94 of an internal U-shaped channel having a bottom leg 96 and an upstanding leg 98, which latter leg 98 is secured by a bent-in leg 10%) overlying the leg 98. An outside wall 102 connects with a bottom wall 104 to complete the rolled frame stock. Screen cloth, cut to suitable size, has a substantially planar area 104 and is bent downwardly around its edges 166 and is preferably flared outwardly all around its perimeter 108. The screen is retained by snap-in friction bars 110 having mitred corners, not shown, for neat appearance. The bars can also be snapped out to replace screen in the event of damage to same.

The lower Window panel 52, FIG. 2, on the bottom frame side 50, has a handle 112 that is preferably made of virgin transparent nylon for both strength and for blending into the coloration of the aluminum. The handle 112 has a recessed lower surface 114, a depending leg 115 which can receive two or more screws 116, which may be of the self-tapping type which pass through suitable holes, not shown, in the leg 115 and the exposed wall of the lower frame side 50. The nylon handle 112 is suitably cast and can contain a manufacturers logogram as an embossment 118. To facilitate this, the casting dies may be provided with different inserts custom made to suit quantity purchasers desires in this regard.

The lower inner window 52 is equipped on its top frame side with an extruded plastic interlock strip generally indicated at 120. The interlock strip 120 cooperates with an outer interlock strip 122 carried on the bottom side 50 of the outer and upper window panel 52. Each of the interlock strips 120 and 122 may extend entirely between inner surfaces 124 and 126, FIG. 5, of the side rail frame parts 30 and 32; or clearance at one end can be provided to facilitate ready panel placement and removal. The interlock 120 has a downwardly depending edge 128 and the interlock 122 has a mating edge 130 which underlaps the edge 128, with panel parts in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The interlock 120 is secured by a suitable number of screws 132 to the top wall 72 of the upper window frame part 50 of the lowermost window panel 52 and the outer interlock 122 is secured by identical screws 132 to the wall 72 of the lower frame part 50 of the uppermost window panel 52. The interlock 120 is preferably snap fitted as a cover over the top wall 72 in a manner now to be described.

The interlock 120 is shaped generally as an inverted U-shaped strip and the spread between the depending legs of the U-shaped strip are such as to have an interference, or friction, fit with the sides of the upper window frame part 50. Overlying the upper wall '72 of the frame part 50 is a plastic strip 135 which is secured down upon the wall 72 by a suitable number of the screws 132. The strip 135 extends along the upper surface of the wall 72, preferably nearly the entire length thereof. The strip 135 is sized to be a snap fit with relationship to the interior of the U-shaped portion of the interlock 120. By such construction, the interlock strip 120 can be inserted between the side rail framing parts 30 and 32 and be snapped on and off to and from the position shown, FIG. 2, after the window assembly is made, while leaving the securement strip 135 in place. It is to be noted that the securement strip is of a dimension approximately the same as the width between the inwardly facing beads 40 and 42 forming the inwardly facing opening of the slotted side rails, and therefore, the securement strip can slip into same for facilitating insertion and removal of window panels 52. The operation of inserting and removing panels will be described more fully hereinbelow.

The different combination glass and screen panels 52 and 54 as assembled are retained in the grooves 35 around the frame parts 26, 28, 30 and 32 by the following structure. A pair of identical inverted U-shaped channel beams 140 are inserted in the lower channels 28. The depending legs 142 of channel beams 140 space the top surface 144 thereof a predetermined distance above the upper surface of the wall 60 of the rail 28 to permit the lower window panel framing members 50 to enter the lower grooves 35 only a certain distance. The groove 35 extends entirely around the framing members inasmuch as they are formed of identical extruded stock. It is to be noted that the upper framing member 26 does not have any spacer in it for a purpose to appear more fully hereinbelow.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 9, it is to be noted that the side rails 30 and 32 are equipped with, respectively, a U-shaped bolster 145 having less depth than a spacer a, which latter may be made of identical stock as the spacers 140 described above. Both bolsters 145, FIG. 4, are identical to each other in cross-section and made from identical extruded stock. The bolsters have short legs 146 so that the bolsters 145 can both be moved bodily toward the left from the position shown in each of FIGS. 4 and 9. Identical serpentine shaped elongated springs 148 are framed between inner surfaces 150 of the side channels 35 and an inner wall 152 of the spacers 145.

In the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, the springs 148 are under compression at all times. Rightward movement of springs 148 is restricted by engagement of the bolsters 145 with the inside surfaces 30a and 30b when a window or screen panel is not inserted into the continuous channels 35. As will appear more fully hereinbelow, a window or screen panel can be moved toward the left, as viewed in either of these figures, to compress the serpentine springs 148 to permit insertion; and removal of window and screen panels 52 and 54, respectively. The U-shaped channels 140a and 145 preferably extend down to the tops 144 of the bottom insert channels 140; and there is suflicient clearance provided in the top rail 26, for both the movable bolster 145 and the serpentine spring 148 to permit lateral movement thereof for receiving and retaining glass panels 50 and screen panels 50'.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, the insert channel 140:: is provided with one or more, and preferably at least two, holes 154 into which a bolt 155 may be spring biased for locking the window panel 50 is closed or suitably open positions. In each figure the window panel 50 is shown in the closed or lowermost position. Because of this locking function attribute of the present invention, it is preferred that the guide insert 140a be the entire length of the right-hand rail 32, or alternatively, of the lefthand rail 30 of the frame structure.

A combination corner bracket and latch mechanism also comprises an important feature of this invention. With reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 9 and 10, details of this latch mechanism 160 are shown. A corner angle bracket 161 may be formed of suitable material for stamping and forming, and comprises an upstanding leg 162 having outwardly turned flanges 164, which leg 162 and flanges 164 are sized for friction fitting into the interior end opening of window framing stock 50. With reference to FIG. 2, it is to be noted that a similar interior end opening is provided in the screen framing stock 50'. Accordingly, the same corner brackets can be used with screen panels 54- as with window panels 52 and fitting framing parts 50' and 50. At right angles to the leg 162, and the upstanding flanges 164, is a second leg 166 having an upstanding flange 168, which together with the leg 166 fits the interior of framing stock forming the bottom frame part 50 for the window panel 52.

The leg 166 has an upstanding end flange 170 which is adapted to abut at one end of a spring 172, which is a compression spring. The other end of the compression spring 172 is adapted to snap fit over a. boss 174 of the plunger generally indicated at 175, which plunger 175 is preferably formed of nylon both for strength and to facilitate a smoothly sliding structure in metal and plastic parts in which it is confined.

The plunger 175 is provided with a generally rectangularly cross-sectioned barrel 176 which has an axially slotted cross-hole 178 therein for frictionally engaging a neck 188 having a snap-in head 180a, which neck is formed with an external extension 182 of a handle 185, FIG. 10. The extension 182 extends through a slot 186 in the window framing member 50, partially shown in FIG. 10. The slot 186 has suitable length to permit movement of the barrel 176 toward the left against the bias of spring 172, when transverse force is applied to knob 187, to draw the bolt 155 out of engagement in any hole 154 to free the window panel 52 for movement away from the position shown and into retention in another hole 154. The barrel 176 contains projections 188 which slide along a raised web 189 to keep the barrel 176 in alignment.

The bolt 155 passes through a notch 192, which is open outwardly from the plane of the paper, so that the assembly of the plunger 175 within the bracket is merely a matter of placing same in the position shown, FIGS. 4 and 9, upon assembly of the framing parts 50 with the bracket 160. The bolt 155 can be drawn within the inside of the outer dimensions of the bracket 160 whereby to facilitate slip-on assembly of framing parts 50 over bracket legs 162 and 166.

The snap together feature of the knob 185 with the barrel 175 for rendering the latch 165 operable exteriorly of the frame part 50 forms an important attribute of this invention. The window panels, and screen panels on which latches are desired, can be shipped packaged in relatively flat packages, and the knobs 185 can be snapped into place after the package is opened. Accordingly hitherto wasted package space is saved by this new snap together feature of the present invention. Once parts 175 and 185 are snapped together, by exerting force between the knob 187 and the wall 50 of the window frame, the end 180a can be snapped out of the slot 178 for convenient disassembly of same. Because the parts are made of virgin nylon, both for strength and beauty, they can be snapped together and taken apart several times without injury to either part.

As will appear more clearly below, the frame members 50 framing window panels 52, as well as screen panels 54, are adapted to be snapped together by a new corner bracket structure including two tabs 200, only one of which appears in FIG. 9 in the bolt-and-bracket combination, the other being hidden beneath the plunger 175.

The new corner bracket assembly now will be described with reference to FIGS. 9, 11 and 12. Corner brackets 202 are provided with tabs 200 that can be formed in the same punching machine as the tabs 200 of the bracket-latch combination explained hereinabove.

Each corner bracket 202 is identical to another, and comprises two identical legs 204, only one of which will be described in detail. The brackets are such that they can be conveniently made from sheet metal parts; however, they can be cast, or otherwise suitably manufactured, in keeping with this invention.

A leg 205 has a canted-up end 206. There is a struckup tab 200 which provides a shoulder 208. The leg 205 has an external struck-up flange 210, and an internal struck-up flange 212, the ends 211 and 213 of which, respectively, taper to afford facile assembly. The dimension of at least one of these flanges, and preferably both flange 210 and flange 212, is sufficient to engage slipfrictionally the internal walls of each of rail framing sides 50 and 50. A side 50, adjacent the end thereof, has a struck-up flange 200a which presents an end 215 adapted to engage the shoulder 208 to latch a framing part 50 in position upon a leg 205. A left-hand end of window framing stock 50, mitred at 45 degrees, is adapted to slide on the left-hand leg 204 into abutting engagement along the mitred corner lines 85 and likewise frictionally engage a shoulder 208 of the leg 204 whereby to latch the assembly together at each corner.

In assembling a panel with framing parts 50 in keeping with this invention, and including either a latch bracket structure 160, or four-corner brackets 202 of the type described immediately above, the following steps of assembly are taken. A lower horizontal frame part 50, FIG. 9, has at its left-hand side a leg 204 inserted into the end thereof until the tabs 200 and 20011 engage each other, which in this invention is accompanied with a clicking sound as tab surfaces snap into engagement. Either another similar bracket 202, or the latch bracket 160, can next be inserted in the right-hand end of the lower rail 50 until a latch tab 200 and 200a, not shown, engage.

Thereafter, side framing vertical members 50 are pushed down on the upstanding legs of the brackets 160 and 202 until the tabs 200 engage the tabs 200a with the mitred corners in engagement with each other. Thereafter an upper horizontal framing rail, not shown, has brackets inserted thereinto in the same manner as discussed in connection with the insertion of brackets into the lower window framing rail 50. With the brackets inserted into the upper rail the same is moved simultaneously into both the rightand left-hand window frame parts 50 until tabs 200 and 200a snap together which completes the assembly of the frame parts 50.

It is to be noted that screen panel frame parts 50' can be assembled in the manner outlined above inasmuch as the screen, FIGS. 2 and 4, is held in place by snap-in keeper bars around the periphery of the screen cloth 104.

For glass window panel assembly, after the bottom and side frame parts 50 are assembled, window supporting gasket or gaskets 84, at least the bottom three sides of which may be a single strip, are inserted in the inward facing U-shaped groove formed in the frame parts 50. Thereafter, or simultaneously therewith, the glass panel 52 is inserted therein in the strip. A similar strip 84 is inserted into the horizontal top frame piece 50, not shown, with brackets 202 therein, and the same is placed down into the tops of vertical side frame parts 50 and over the top of the glass until fastening tabs 200 and 200a engage each other to complete a window panel assembly.

In order to disassemble a glass panel 52, a spatula or knife blade or the like can be inserted at the junction mitre line 85 between ends of frame parts 50 and the spatula is passed inwardly between the inside wall 50 of the framing part and the bottom surface of leg 205 of the angle bracket 202 or 204 to depress the tab 200a out of engagement with the shoulder 208. The rails corner can be pulled apart, at least sufficiently to maintain release of the tab 200a. Thereafter, a tab 200a on an opposite corner is likewise released from retention with the shoulder 208 and the frame rail thus released can be separated. Accordingly, it is seen that an additional attribute of the present invention is facile replacement of broken window panes and the like.

The above described modification of the invention has been directed to a preferred form of construction, that is, the factory-assembled combination door kit for a door unit. With the parts manufactured and used in the manner above described, kits of parts can be made up for large purchasers of doors at remote points of the market and units comprising all of the parts comprising a kit for a single door can be contained in a single package. Window and screen framing parts can be assembled at a remote factory or shop making finished doors including the kits as part of the doors; and can assemble a door including framing structure in the manner now to be described.

By way of example only, with reference again to FIG. 1, the door 20 may comprise substantially four or more parts. It is to be understood, however, that different manufacturers may choose to use any desired number of parts, as mentioned briefly above in the introduction to the specification. As constructed of four parts, a lower part 220 can be joined at its side by two vertical side parts 222 along lines 224, which lines 224 can be spaced precisely to match the dimensions and closely fit the frame parts 28, 30 and 32. The lower rail or track 228, without the inverted U channel member therein is placed over the part 220 (with at least one side part 222 not assembled) and nailed down, as by nails 24. After nailing the channel member 140 is inserted. Thereafter either the right or left track 30 or 32 can be installed.

The track 30 can be installed next, and nailed to the left side 222. In the event it is desired to have the bolster on the left-hand side (which is usually the case) the less deep inverted U-shaped channel forming the bolster 145 and the spring 148, FIG. 9, is slipped down into place as shown in FIG. 9. Thereafter, the right-hand rail 32 is mailed to the right side 222 of the door with the chamfered corners 70 engaging each other. The inverted U- shaped channel 140a is slipped down within the groove 35 in the rail 32. Thereafter the inverted top rail 26 is installed on the top piece 226, which together form a subassembly and are connected with the side pieces 222 of the door 20.

The adaptation of the invention for field or custom installation will now be described. Parts that are identical to parts described hereinabove bear the same reference characters, and will not be described again. With reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, certain parts that are used in connection with a completed door construction now to be described, are not shown for clarity of the modified parts. It is to be understood, however, that identical parts, particularly the window and screen panel parts, are identical to those described above as well as the corner latch and the brackets. Likewise the buffer 145 biased by the spring 148 is used in each of these modifications and will not again be described.

With reference first to FIG. 6, a framing structure has identical parts forming tracks or channels 235 to the grooves 35 described above, and can be fabricated from the same or identical die parts. This modification, however, has an enlarged adapter for openings in doors and the like so that the same may be installed in situ in the field. These modifications of the invention have the characteristic, in common with the preferred embodiment of the invention described above, in that they use identical extrusion shapes in large part to form all four sides of the framing rails of a rectangular opening.

With reference to FIG. 6, part 230 of an extrusion is shown in typical cross-section for all four sides of an opening 232. Such parts 230 are used for connecting a combination kit in the opening 232 in a door part 234, and include an offset leg 236, depending leg 238, and an inwardly facing shoulder 240 providing a surface 242 for abutting a left-hand surface of the door 234, as illustrated, and preferably the outdoor surface of the door for weather tightness all around. A plurality of nails 244 are nailed in a longitudinally extending groove 246, and a suitable number of nails 244 are used to obtain a desired securement of the rail or track containing grooves 35 to the door opening 232.

It is to be noted that a dimension d can be accommodated with this structure. This dimension d, in a presently made modification of the invention can be approximately 4", whereby to accommodate /2" of either out of plumbness or trueness, or minimum to maximum dimension accommodated by a kit having parts constructed with such quarter inch clearance all around. The extrusions are mitred at 45 degrees at their corners, not shown, but in the manner of the previously described modification of the invention, and a cover strip 248 can be snapped in place inside the groove 246. The cover strip 248 in the groove 246 is also mitred at corners thereof to present a smooth appearance of the installation.

In order to accomplish secure and weather-tight corner sealing of this modification of the invention, a corner bracket such as illustrated in FIG. 8 is used. The corner bracket 250 is made up of extruded angle-shaped plastic stock preferably of the same material as the other extrusions. The angle-shaped stock is cross-cut off along cut-off lines 252, 253, etc., to have a proper width 254 to press fit tightly between shouldered flanges 255 in each of the extruded parts when connected together at their corners. It is to be noted that legs 256 of the corner brackets 250 are identical, and when fitted between the shouldered flanges 255, provide rigidity at the corners and weather tightness thereof.

In assembly, in one method, brackets 250 are inserted in the manner of assembly of the rail parts described hereinabove and the bottom rail is preferably inserted first and rendered level with respect to gravity whereafter the balance of the assembly can be made. Another alternate method of assembly of the portion of the invention thus far described comprises assembly of all four frame sides, which as assembled are moved toward the right into the door opening as viewed in FIG. 6, plumbed with the aid of wedges, not shown, and the nails 244 placed therearound. Either method of assembly is recommended; however, the latter method of assembly, further including the window and screen panels therein is likewise a convenient method for the less skilled installers inasmuch as they can better plumb up the entire assembly with a level while accommodating irregularities in the opening 232 made in a door. The assembled screen and window panel parts will avail further rigidity while the corner lock brackets 250 will maintain the assembly in suitably fixed relationship to accomplish assembly of the left-hand portions 230 of an in situ installation.

With the left-hand portions 230 all in place, the righthand portion 260 can be snapped in along an inwardly projecting head on an upper edge 262 of the portion 260 into a female bead 264 on the portion 230. After snapping the bead parts 262 and 264 together, a bottom grooved base 266 can be nailed by nails 244 in the manner described in connection with the part 230, and an identical snap cover 246 can cover the nail heads.

The modification shown in FIG. 7 is generally identical to the modification described in connection with FIG. 6, and all parts are the same with the exception that bead 262a cooperating with the bead 264 is carried by an inwardly extending wider flange 270 which accommodates a wider piece of stock 272 for a door. It will be recognized that for different widths of door stock, which may vary widely in different parts of the world, that identical extrusions 230 can be utilized while providing modified parts 260a. This attribute of the invention effects a substantial saving in dies and permits the making of higher quality dies for forming parts that are common to each modification of the invention described above.

One method of removal and installation of screen and window panels will now be described. With reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, the interlock strip 120, FIG. 2, is first snapped off and the lower inner glass panel 52 is raised. Removal of the strip exposes the snap-in strip 135 on top of the top framing piece 50' for the window 52. To facilitate removal of the locking strip 135 the lower window panel 52 can be raised so that the interlocking lips 128 and 130 are free to permit ready removal of the strip 120. By placing a putty knife under the exposed edge of an end of the inverted U-shaped strip 120 the same can be snapped up and off of the snap-in strip 135, the locking strip end can be raised up further to peel the same off of the snap-in strip 135. With the panel 52 thus raised, pressure can be placed upon the right-hand frame part 50 to move the panel 52 toward the left against the bolster against the bias of the serpentine spring 148 to thus move the bolster 145 toward the left. The bolt 155, shown extended, is retracted toward the left by moving the knob 187 leftward. As most clearly shown in FIG. 14, the right-hand panel 52 can then be rotated inwardly and out of alignment with the side rail 32, and thereafter moved toward the right to remove the lefthand side thereof from the side rail 30.

With the lower window panel 52 thus removed, screen panel 54 can be moved upwardly which in turn will drive the upper and outer window panel 52 upwardly into the space 35 in the top rail 26, FIG. 2. The upper rail 50 of the upper window panel 52 can be pushed up as far as the dotted line position 50a. With the upper window panel 52 in this uppermost position, the screen panel 54 can be moved downwardly to free the upper rail 50 thereof from the lower channel of the locking strip 122. In this latter position the screen panel will be out of the groove in the lower or sill rail 28 and can be swung in the same manner as the window panel 52 described above to clear same from the right-side rail 32 to permit removal of the screen panel 54 from the left-hand rail 30.

If the outer and upper window panel 52 is to be removed, the locking strip 122 is removed by removal of screws 132. As a general rule, in most localities, the upper and outer window panel 52 is left in place at all times. With the screen panel 54 removed, the upper panel can be washed in situ conveniently by moving same up and down in the side rails 30 and 3-2 to convenient positions for washing from inside of a building. In the event of glass breakage, and removal is desired, the locking strip 122 can be removed, the panel removed and a glass pane replaced, as described briefly above.

With reference to FIG. 3 a window arrangement is shown for winter usage and is double glazed, as is common in many Northern and Southern Hemisphere locations. This arrangement comprises four glass panels 52. With such installation it is to be noted that a locking strip 122 is also provided for the inner windows; however, this strip may conveniently be a snap-on strip, not shown, rather than a screw-on strip as shown, if desired. In this modification of the invention, it is preferred that ventilation holes 28' be provided in the lower window framing part 28 as illustrated in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 3, these holes pass through all parts except the innermost web 36 of the bottom rail 28. A screen 36 is preferably placed immediately within the outermost web 36 and outside the inverted channel insert leg 142 to prevent insects from nesting within the framing structure.

To accomplish removal of the inner panels, shown at the left in FIG. 3, the lower panel 52 is raised, which drives the upper panel 52 up to the dotted line position 50b. The lower panel can then be moved downwardly to the position shown in solid lines, FIG. 3, to leave a space between lower framing rail 50 of the upper window panel and the locking strip 120. With the locking strip 122 removed, as by removal of the screws 132, the lower window panel 52 can again be raised and removed in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14.

The next step of removal is to raise the outer two window panels 52 driving the upper rail 50 of the uppermost window thereof to the position 50a in the same manner as described above in connection with FIG. 2. With the upper rail 50 in this uppermost position the lower window panel 52 can be lowered to clear the bottom channel in the locking strip 122 and be removed in the manner of removal of the screen panel 54, FIGS. 13 and 14.

After removal of the lower outer window panel 52, the upper inner and outer window panels can be removed by moving both upper Window panels 52 downwardly simultaneously, or moving at least the inner window panel downwardly in the event the interlock strip 122 is removed, and swinging the upper and inner window panel 52 outwardly in the manner of removal of the window panel 52, FIGS. 2, 13 and 14.

If it is desired to remove the outer upper window panel 52, the same can be removed in the same manner as described in connection with FIG. 2 by removal of the outer interlock strip 122, moving the window panel downwardly and compressing the bolster 145 and the serpentine spring 148 to effect removal in the manner described above.

While I have shown and described in detail a preferred embodiment of my invention and subcombinations there- 12 of, and modifications of the invention, obviously other combinations, subcombinations and methods of using apparatus and window kits in keeping with the teachings of the invention will occur to others skilled in the art. Accordingly, I wish not to be limited in my invention only to the specific embodiments shown and described, but only by the spirit and scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-panel window construction comprising a frame formed from segments of a single extrusion for retaining movable and removable window panels, the frame having a base defining an inner peripheral rectangular opening and having a predetermined thickness, the frame having a rectangular configuration with the outer periphery thereof being sized to fit a predetermined opening, said frame base including upper, lower and side parts, the extremities of each of the frame parts being mitered to engage adjacent parts to provide the frame with mitered corners, each of the upper, lower and side frame parts being formed with flanges directed inwardly from the base and providing therebetween a pair of adjacent inwardly opening U-shaped channels, the abutment of the bases of the frame parts providing a pair of adjacent continuous channels which open inwardly from the continuous bases into the opening provided by the inner periphery of the frame and which channels extend in a generally rectangular pattern about the inner periphery of the frame, the inwardly directed flanges being disposed in a direction substantially normal to the respective frame part bases from which they extend, the innermost extremities of each of the flanges being flanged to partially close the inwardly opening U-shaped channels to retain spacer members therein, first elongated spacer members disposed longitudinally in the channels of the lower frame part and in contact with the base thereof, a second elongated spacer member disposed vertically in one of the side frame parts, the second spacer member being provided with a plurality of generally vertically aligned and spaced perforations for receipt of window locking means, and resiliently biased third spacer members disposed vertically in the side frame part opposite the second spacer member.

2. The multi-panel window construction of claim 1 including a plurality of movable and removable window uni-ts, each having at least three peripheral edges thereof movably disposed within channels of at least three of the frame parts, the fourth peripheral edges of the windows being disposed in normally adjacent relationship at about the midpoint of the rectangular frame, at least one of the window units being provided with locking means cooper-able with the perforations on the second spacer member to permit selective vertical positioning of the Window in the frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,605,870 8/1952 Hansen 494l4 2,664,599 1/1954 Zitorner 49414 2,917,788 12/1959 Kunkel 49434 3,130,455 4/1964 Borlenghi 52309 3,003,202 10/ 1961 Mendelsohn 49-450 X DAVID J. WILLIA'MOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Examiner.

A. I. BREIER, J. KARL BELL, Assistant Examiners, 

1. A MULTI-PANEL WINDOW CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A FRAME FORMED FROM SEGMENTS OF A SINGLE EXTRUSION FOR RETAINING MOVABLE AND REMOVABLE WINDOW PANELS, THE FRAME HAVING A BASE DEFINING AN INNER PERIPHERAL RECTANGULAR OPENING AND HAVING A PREDETERMINED THICKNESS, THE FRAME HAVING A RECTANGULAR CONFIGURATION WITH THE OUTER PERIPHERY THEREOF BEING SIZED TO FIT A PREDETERMINED OPENING, SAID FRAME BASE INCLUDING UPPER, LOWER AND SIDE PARTS, THE EXTREMITIES OF EACH OF THE FRAME PARTS BEING MITERED TO ENGAGE ADJACENT PARTS TO PROVIDE THE FRAME WITH MITERED CORNERS, EACH OF THE UPPER, LOWER AND SIDE FRAME PARTS BEING FORMED WITH FLANGES DIRECTED INWARDLY FROM THE BASE AND PROVIDING THEREBETWEEN A PAIR OF ADJACENT INWARDLY OPENING U-SHAPED CHANNELS, THE ABUTMENT OF THE BASES OF THE FRAME PARTS PROVIDING A PAIR OF ADJACENT CONTINUOUS CHANNELS WHICH OPEN INWARDLY FROM THE CONTINUOUS BASES INTO THE OPENING PROVIDED BY THE INNER PERIPHERY OF THE FRAME AND WHICH CHANNELS EXTEND IN A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR PATTERN ABOUT THE INNER PERIPHERY OF THE FRAME, THE INWARDLY DIRECTED FLANGES BEING DISPOSED IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE RESPECTIVE FRAME PART BASES FROM WHICH THEY EXTEND, THE INNERMOST EXTREMITIES OF EACH OF THE FLANGES BEING FLANGED TO PARTIALLY CLOSE THE INWARDLY OPENING U-SHAPED CHANNELS TO RETAIN SPACER MEMBERS THEREIN, FIRST ELONGATED SPACER MEMBERS DISPOSED LONGITUDINALLY IN THE CHANNELS OF THE LOWER FRAME PART AND IN CONTACT WITH THE BASE THEREOF, A SECOND ELONGATED SPACER MEMBER DISPOSED VERTICALLY IN ONE OF THE SIDE FRAME PARTS, THE SECOND SPACER MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY VERTICALLY ALIGNED AND SPACED PERFORATIONS FOR RECEIPT OF WINDOW LOCKING MEANS, AND RESILIENTLY BIASED THIRD SPACER MEMBERS DISPOSED VERTICALLY IN THE SIDE FRAME PART OPPOSITE THE SECOND SPACER MEMBER. 